Barrel cover clamp



July 14, 1942. c, c, o s I 2,289,422

BARREL COVER CLAMP Filed Oct. 9,. 1939 Patented July 14, 1942 BARRELCOVER CLAlVIP Carl C. Grotnes, Park Ridge, 111., assignor of onehalf toGeorge G. Guttner, Chicago, 111.

Application October 9, 1939, Serial No. 298,556

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a novel form of sealing and clamping device forsteel drums or barrels of the type in which the usual removable head orcover is provided with a marginal flange overlying a bead on the endedge of the'barrel. To hold such a cover in place, a split ring. or hoopof channel-shaped cross section is applied so as to encircle the barrelbead and the overlying cover flange. The present invention contemplatesthe provision of a novel form of mechanism for contracting the hoop orring so as to insure a tight seal about the entire perimeter of thebarrel head.

One object of the invention is to provide such a device with the partsconstructed and arranged so as to present a minimum lateral protrusionfrom the side of the barrel, while also leaving the head entirely freeof obstruction, so that itwill not interfere in any way with stacking orhandling of barrels provided with such devices.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character indicatedincorporating a novel construction and arrangement of partsby virtue ofwhich strength and ruggedness of construction, as well as highlyadvantageous leverage ratios for operation are combined with extremeeconomy of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a barrel providedwith a clamping device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamping device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the clamping deviceapplied to the barrel of Fig. 1, illustrating the mode of tensioning theclamping ring.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3but with the ring tensioning parts inretracted position and shown partially in section.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the nose portion of the pawl andcooperating abutment structure on the clamping ring.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the clampingmechanism in its retracted or clamped position.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional'view along the line 'l-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a spring clip included in thedevice.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in-the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail, the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the exemplary construction, a clamping de vice embodying theinvention has been shown as applied to a steel barrel ll] ofconventional form (Fig. 1) having the usual cover ll (Fig. 3) fashionedat its marginal edge to overlie a bead at the upper edge of the barrel.The clamping device includes a hoop or split ring l2, which is ofsemicircular or. channel-shaped cross section (Fig. 7) in order toembrace the barrel head and overlie the edge of the cover to clamp themtogether when the hoop is contracted. The hoop may be of substantiallynon-resilient sheet metal, such, for example, as hot rolled steel.

To draw the hoop l2 tight about the barrel head, a novel form ofhoop-tensioning mechanism has been provided. It includes a hand lever M(Fig. 3) pivoted by pins l5 fixed in opposite side walls of the hoopadjacent one end of the latter to swing in the plane of the hoop. Thislever is also fashioned of sheet metal and is shaped and dimensioned tofit snugly about the hoop when in its retracted or depressed position(Fig. 2). At its inner end the center or crown portion of the lever M iscut away (Fig. 3) to form a yoke-shaped end with the legs of the yokeconnected to the ring by pivot pins I5 so that full and free swingingmovement of the lever is permitted.

Intermediate the ends of the lever l4 and closely adjacent its pivots |5ispivoted a pawl l6 by pins l! in the side walls of the lever. Like thelever l4, this pawl is fashioned of sheet metal and is of suitable crosssection and longitudinal curvature to conform to the periphery of thehoop l2 and fit snugly about it'when in its retracted position (Fig. 4)Alsolike the lever Hi, the pivoted end of the pawl is cut away at itscentral or crown portion to form a yoke-shaped end, the

legs-of which are attached by the pins H to the lever M. This yokecut-out on the pawl is deep, however, not only to permit freedom ofswing for the pawl, but alsoyand more important, so that when the pawland lever are retracted they can lie snugly along the ringperiphery withtheir central or crown portions in longitudinal alinement and withoutany overlapping of the same.

Operative engagement between the pawl I6 and the hoop I2 is eilectedbymeans of teethpreferably in the form of a pair of hardened steel pins I8(Fig. 7) fixed in the outer end of the pawl and projecting inwardlytoward the hoop. These pins are positioned to engage a complementalseries of abutments space-d circumferentially of the hoop and located onthe end portion thereof opposite that to which the lever [A is pivoted.In the present instance these abutments are formed by the walls of holesl9 fashioned in the hoop and dimensioned to receive the pins l8. Byusing a plurality of closely spaced abutments the takeup can be effectedin small incremental steps so as to insure a tight fit of the hoopdespite discrepancies of barrel or hoop diameters from standard sizes.Additional tightening as may be required is also made possible by thissmall step take-up.

To prevent skewing or twisting of the hoop l2 when it is placed undertension, the holes I9 are located in two rows lying on opposite sides ofthe median plane of the hoop. In this way the tensioning force appliedto the hoop, by engagement of the pawl I B with the holes I9, is equallydistributed on opposite sides of the hoops median plane so that there isno tendency to distort it. Also, this arrangement of a plurality oftransversely alined holes, as compared to a single wide slot, givesmaximum hoop strength, particularly in view of the uninterrupted centralportion of the hoop through which tension is transmitted.

In the operation of the device the hoop I2 is slipped into position onthe barrel l and the lever I 4 is swung outward into a position likethat of Fig. 3 in which the pawl teeth I 8 can engage one of the pairsof holes l9. The lever I4 is then swung back toward its retractedposition (Fig. 4) thereby drawing together the ends of the hoop. Thioperation may, if necessary, be repeated a number of times with anadvance of the pawl teeth l8 to successive sets of holes l9 at eachactuation of the lever. Since the hoop I2 is substantiallynon-resilient, it will not spring out when released by the pawl in theinterval between successive actuations. The frictional grip or bindingof the loop on the barrel also aids in holding it in place during thiinterval.

Of particular importance in the construction of the device is the factthat the pivotal connection I 1, between the pawl 16 and lever I 4, islocated closely adjacent the lever pivots l5. This relation is, first ofall, possible because of the close spacing of the holes l9circumferentially of the hoop. In other words, the close spacing of theholes makes possible short strokes of the hand lever in effecting theshort take-up steps in tightening the hoop. Such a short stroke or throwfor the hand lever and pawl makes it possible to place the pawl andlever pivots close together. On the other hand this relation of thepivots makes it possible to accomplish several important improvement inoperation so that a close correlation exists between the structuralfeatures noted. First, the tensioning force applied to the hoop 12,through the pawl I6, is along a line lying very close to the peripheryof the hoop so that there is no tendency to pull the end of the hoopwhich is engaged by the pawl, away from the barrel. In this way a firmand effectual clamping of the hoop against the barrel is effectedthroughout the length of the hoop. Second, the operator is afforded avery good lever advantage since the portion of the lever l4 beyond thepivot I! is much greater than that lying between the pivots I1 and I5.Third, this close proximity of the pivots I7 and I5 makes it possible,with reasonably short yokes on the ends of the pawl and lever, to locatethe pawl and lever in longitudinal alinement along the hoop peripherywhen they are retracted (Fig. 4) while at the same time retaining theadvantages of strength and ruggedness of construction resulting from theuse of a channel-shaped pawl "S as distinguished from say a pair ofseparate pawl links pivoted in spaced relation on opposite sides of thelever l4.

To hold the pawl l6 against accidental lateral displacement after theclamping operation is completed a spring clip 20 is provided (Figs. 6, 7and 8). This spring clip may be fashioned from resilient wire and itsinwardly bent ends 2| are received within slots 22 formed in the inneredges of the hoop I 2.

Means is provided for sealing the clamping ring when in place in orderto show, by breakage of the seal, any unauthorized opening of thebarrel. To this end a lug 23 (Fig. 6) is extended from the side of thepawl l6 and has in it a hole registering with a corresponding hole inthe underlying pivot pin l5. A sealing wire 24 is inserted through theseregistering holes.

In order to remove the clamping hoop or ring l2 from the barrel, thepawl I6 is also utilized. For this purpose a lug 25 (Fig. 6) is struckout from the hoop. To free the hoop, which, being non-resilient, mightotherwise stick in place on the barrel, the lever 14 is elevated toshove the nose of the pawl l6 forward against the opposed abutment facepresented by the lug 25. The lever I4 is then pressed forward stillfarther (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3), thereb positively expanding thehoop to force its ends apart.

That the parts of the mechanism are few in number and simple in shapewill be clear from the foregoing. One prime virtue of the shapes used isthat the principal parts, including the hoop l2, the lever I4, and pawlHi, can all be formed by simple rolling operations as distinguished fromthe use of expensive forming dies. The holes 19 is the hoop, and othernecessary apertures, can be formed in the material while it is flat.After having thus been preliminarily formed, the parts are shapedthrough the use of suitable rollers to give them their necessary channelor semicircular cross sectional shape, as

Well as longitudinal curvature.

The device herein disclosed is characterized by its extreme compactnesswhen in place on a barrel. By virtue of the fact that the lever I 4 andpawl I6 are disposed in non-overlapping relation when retracted (Fig.4), as described above, a maximum of two thicknesses of metal ispresented in a lateral direction so that there is very little protrusionfrom the side of the barrel. Additionally, it will be seen that none ofthe parts of the device overlie the head of the barrel so that there isno interference whatever with barrel stacking.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the type described for clamping a head on a barrel,the combination of a split ring of channel shaped cross section, a pawland an actuating lever therefor, both said pawl and lever being ofchannel shaped form dimensioned to fit snugly along the periphery ofsaid ring, said lever having a yoke on one end thereof with its legspivotally connected to the ring adjacent one end of the latter, saidpawl also having a yoke on one end thereof with its legs pivotallyconnected to said lever adjacent the latters pivotal connection to thering, the sum of the respective lengths of said lever and pawl yokesbeing at least slightly greater than the distance between theirrespective pivotal connections in a direction circumferentially of thering, thereby permitting said lever and pawl to be retracted snuglyagainst the ring periphery with the central body portions of the pawland lever in longitudinally alined and non-overlapping relation, theother end of said pawl having two transversely alined projectionsthereon, and the end portion of said ring opposite said lever having twocircumferentially extending rows of holes therein adapted to be engagedby said pawl projections in selected pairs and arranged with said rowsof holes lying on opposite sides of the median plane of said ring.

2. In a device of the type described for clamping a head on a barrel,the combination with a split ring of channel shape cross section, of ahand lever pivoted adjacent one end of said ring to swing in the planeof the latter, said ring having two rows of circumferentially spacedholes in its end portion opposite said lever with the holes arranged intwo rows lying on opposite sides of the median plane of the ring, and apawl pivoted on said lever intermediate the latters ends to span the gapin the split ring, and having a pair of projections on the free endthereof engageable with successive pairs of said holes to draw the ringtight as the lever is swung away from the gap in the split ring.

3. In a device of the type described for clamping a head on a barrel,the combination with a split clamping ring, of a lever, a pivot pinsupporting said lever on one end portion of said ring to swing in thering plane and arranged with said pin projecting laterally from thering, a pawl pivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portionof said lever, said ring and lever and pawl all being of channel shapedcross section with the pawl and lever dimensioned to fit snugly alongthe ring exterior when in retracted position and a lug projecting fromthe side of said pawl to overlie said projected pivot pin when the pawland lever are retracted, said lug and pin having registering aperturestherein to receive a sealing wire.

CARL C. GROTNES.

